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National kidney group plays hardball in Albany
November 14, 2011 at 7:53 am by Cathleen F. Crowley, staff health reporter

Just when a local Kidney group started getting momentum, they heard that the national organization was stepping on their turf again.

The Northeast Kidney Foundation (http://www.healthykidneys.org) broke away from the National Kidney Foundation (http://www.kidney.org)  this summer. The local chapter and others across the country were concerned that the national group is moving away from direct patient support.

After they made the break, Carol LaFleur, executive director of the Northeast Kidney Foundation, said donations to the local group’s Kidney Wheels program fell off. The group has been trying to raise awareness that the local Kidney Wheels is different than the national group’s Kidney Cars. Since a story ran in the Times Union about the local group’s disaffiliation, donations went up 25 percent for the local program.

But LaFleur recently learned that the NKF is launching a $15,000 radio campaign in the Albany area promoting Kidney Cars. The ads will run from late November through February.

“Generally, they only do major media markets, so it’s interesting they will place advertising in Albany,” LaFleur said. “They are just trying to maintain this foothold in this region, even though we are the folks that have been providing the services here.”

The local group advertises on local radio, TV and newspapers, but does not have the money to match NKF’s campaign.

“By hurting us, it hurts patients,” LaFleur said.

Related stories:

    NY chapter breaks away from National Kidney Foundation – The Pulse – timesunion.com – Albany NY
    Kidney groups drive in different directions – Times Union

To donate:

    Local donations: Kidney Wheels, (800) 999-9697, http://www.HealthyKidneys.org
    National donations: Kidney Cars, (800) 488-CARS, http://www.kidney.org